L-R Georgia May Foote, Ben Richards, Matt Henry, Amy Di Bartolomeo and Lucy Benjamin in To Sir With Love, credit Richard Lakos.jpg
Olivier Award winner Matt Henry will take on the starring role in next year’s UK touring production of a new musical based on the hit 1960s film To Sir With Love.
Marking the 60th anniversary of the 1967 film, the newly reimagined stage version of E.R. Braithwaite’s powerful 1959 autobiographical work will launch at the Leeds Grand Theatre on 15 April 2027 ahead of an official opening night gala performance on 21 April 2027 in support of the Ben Kinsella Trust. The tour will also visit Hull New Theatre, Manchester Palace Theatre and the New Wimbledon Theatre.
Henry (The Devil Wears Prada, Dominion Theatre; Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre) will play inspirational teacher Rick Braithwaite – the character originated on film by the great Sidney Poitier. He will be joined by Olivier-nominated actress Amy Di Bartolomeo (The Devil Wears Prada, Dominion Theatre; SIX, Vaudeville Theatre) as Ms Blanchard, former EastEnders favourite Lucy Benjamin (Stepping Out, UK tour; Emma, Rose Theatre, Kingston) as Ms Dale-Evans, TV and stage actor Ben Richards (The Bill, ITV; Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre) as Mr Florian and 2015 Strictly Come Dancing runner-up and former Coronation Street regular Georgia May Foote (The Rocky Horror Show, UK tour; Napoli, Brooklyn, Park Theatre and UK tour) as Pamela Dare.
Featuring an original score by John Farrar and Kara DioGuardi, alongside Mark London and Don Black’s chart-topping title song, the tour follows on from two sold-out concert performances at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in November last year.
Directed by acclaimed American director Sheldon Epps, the concerts starred five-time Emmy Award winner Wayne Brady (Moulin Rouge!, The Wiz, Chicago, Kinky Boots, Broadway) in his West End debut alongside veteran British music star Lulu who made her acting debut in the acclaimed 1967 movie and had a major hit with the title song.
Commenting on the tour, Epps, who will also direct the fully-staged UK production, said: “This moving and wonderful story is personally meaningful to me for so many reasons. It is a joy and an honour to bring it to the stage, through the expressive power of musical theatre. Along with my wonderful collaborators we have found ways to let the story ‘sing’ in an organic way, heightening the emotion that has always been there. Rarely do we have the chance to bring to life a story so rooted in its time, yet still so vitally relevant today. I know audiences will celebrate our ‘Sir’ with every performance.”
Producer Kris Lythgoe added: “We are so excited to bring this iconic story to a new generation, and in doing so, celebrate teachers. We all remember a teacher who made a difference in our lives, and we want this musical to encourage people to show them how much they are appreciated.”
Produced by Lythgoe with Sam Quested and Darren Bell For QUBE Theatricals, To Sir, With Love – A New Musical has orchestrations by Joseph Joubert, set and costume design by Andy Walmsley, video design by Aaron Rhyne, sound design by Paul Smith, dramaturgy by Shereen Jasmin Phillips, production management by Phil McCandish and casting by Debbie O’Brien.
To Sir, With Love has been developed through Maine’s Ogunquit Playhouse’s New Works Program.
Angela Thomas
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